10:52AM: The GM of Team USA told Licalzi today, “Brady Skjei is a versatile player. On defense you need guys who are versatile that can play both ways. He is a guy who can play all situations for us. We need to continue to watch him. He has simplified his game to be more of a puck moving defenseman that follows up the play. He is such a great skater that he can get ahead of the play sometimes. We have seen growth in his game. He understands the big ice and defending angles and things like that.”

9:33AM: In Team USA Blue’s loss to Sweden yesterday, Brady Skjei was held off the score sheet with the exception of a cross-checking penalty.

At the United States of Hockey, Chris Peters writes that Skjei looks pretty good to make the team. He added that Skjei’s skating allowed him to close gaps defensively and that he has gotten better at picking his spots to jump up into the play.

Skjei spoke yesterday with SNY’s Nick Licalzi and said that he was focusing on his defensive play over the past couple of year and this past year at Minnesota the coaches wanted him to play in a shutdown role.

He said that the coaches at Minnesota may want to adjust his role this year and allow him to jump into the play more and show off his offensive skills.

Skjei also played on the PK and on the second PP unit for Team USA.

Other things that Skjei told Licalzi are:

that he wants to be an all-around player and not a guy who is just good at offensive or at defense.

he wants to improve his shot from the point and get better at getting pucks through

Team USA will look for him to play a shut down role

he wants to model his game after Ryan McDonagh. “I love the way he plays. He is good in the offensive zone and really good in the defensive zone.”

he wants to be a leader for Team USA this year and wants to teach the younger guys the ropes.